The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-12-22
ONE CHRISTMAS.
By OLIVE HARPER,

sfThat there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, / swan to mani
Here's her father dead, and she left with
all that brood of her stepmother's young
ones; and instead of sendin' 'em TO their
grandfather she ups and says she Is goin'
to support 'em herself She won't get my
Jabez il that's her idee, for I'll Just pnt
my foot down"
martha is o likely girl"
There's three gals and a boy baby, and
they hain't no call nor claim on her.
There's them as would make her good,
forehanded provider, but no man won't
take a hull family on his hands to onct,
It's bad enough marrying widdera but
nobody wants o lot of sickly young ones
a-eating up all the substance of q farm.
No, indeedp'
sswall, you know, Mrs. Hemphiil, Mar
thy feels as IL the children hes as good o
right as herself to the farm; they was her
fathers"
"Yes; but he didn't make no win, and
the farm and the settin' out was all Mar
thy's own mothers, 80 nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does slip
of girl like that know bout carryin' on
q farm, I'd like to known
sIt's too bad; but, as you say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage q farm.
am greatly exercised for her, and Pll ask
the sisterhood to make her subject Of an
address to the throne Of grnce, said Mrs.
Pringle as she gave o little sigh, and
folded up her kitting to take her seat at
Mrs. Hemphill's well filed tea table, for
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have good visit.
Jabez, Mrs. Hemphill's only son, and
his father came In and took their accus-
toned places, and the father asked O very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his lament
Jabez was a handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and lind no
vices, but who possessed q fair share OF
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
tifarious duties on farm were done, to
study, and to slip over to the Avery farm
very often.
Being a steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that sha
w = doing her duty as wise mother IN
di = i.itcnancing such foolish action on
NJ s part as adopting her three little
b, L cters and baby brother.
Il. ghile, Martha was working, as Il
hi pended upon it, over o refrac-
tc ning, and her pretty face was
W "a Into a frown and her cheeks
g, crimson, and little sparks Of anger
sc 20 shoot from her eyes that had
II p:ciou of tears not Ear Oh.
I'll the dasher with vindictive
lii cments, as If she wished she had
sc 1aYticular person under the dasher,
al Si,lal it did seem as II that butter
W.; tcwitched.
81 don't wonder it won't come" said
Nj rtha, ct last "Hateful old thingi AS
If depended upon her, or as IL wanted
he 'Jabez.' guess can manage 9
farrl; at any rate, must try, for with
Gaiss help will take care Of these poor
| Ii lie children. Addie can help take care
OF tho others--and think she b crue1
Oar,
This exclamation was brought forth by
| tie sudden sight OF Jabez, as he sprung
o. or the fence and walked into the wen
& 1t kitchen without word Of warning
on invitation.
fEe walked directly up to Martha and
cl sped both of his hands around hers a
| 81 he'll the ssdasher, !" and said cheerfly.
Well, .Martie, how ara your Here, you
81 down and Let me do this, and. ! can
II X at you all the while, and that WIN
p y me for my work.